NASCAR Racing Drivers: Jeff Gordon

Like Michael Jordan in basketball or Babe Ruth in baseball, even those who don't follow NASCAR racing can recognize Jeff Gordon's name. Off the racetrack, the NASCAR driver has appeared in television commercials, hosted NBC' “Saturday Night Live” and made brief cameos in films like “Taxi” and the racing-themed “Herbie: Fully Loaded.”

Pepsi drinkers certainly recognize Jeff Gordon from commercials and the limited edition Pepsi energy drink that bore his name during the 2007 racing season.

Jeff Gordon developed an interest in racing when he was just a kid. At the age of 5 he had a thirst for speed that developed when his grandfather sat him inside a Quarter Midget race car. The young Gordon won 35 racing events the following year. Not long after, he won his first Grand National Championship at the age of 8. By the time Jeff Gordan was 19 he was the youngest USAC National Midget champion. Not content to rest on his laurels yet, Jeff Gordon became the youngest winner of the Silver Crown after snatching USAC's dirt title the following year.

Gordon grew older but the breakout moments kept coming. Jeff Gordon's breakthrough to fame came in 1992 when he achieved three Busch Series victories and ranked fourth in the final standings. His first cup victory came two years later at the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race in the series.

Jeff Gordon is still shattering records well into his NASCAR racing career. He exceeded $10 million in earnings in 2001, becoming the first NASCAR driver to do that in one season. The record for total money won in NASCAR racing is also currently held by Jeff Gordon – in his 15-year career he's raked in over $82 million in winnings. In addition to his financial success, the 35-year old NASCAR driver is currently the leader in points, with his teammate Jimmie Johnson coming in second with 187 fewer points.

After a decade and a half in the professional world, Jeff Gordon is still a front-runner in the world of racing, but he has a lot to look back on as well. One just needs to take a look at the man's resume for proof. Gordon has taken 78 wins in the Nextel Cup competitions since his rookie year in 1993. He's placed in the top 10 in Busch Series events 32 times, winning 5 times. After his three wins in 1992, he took a 7-year break from the series and returned in 1999 and 2000 to claim a victory each year.

Passing the other NASCAR drivers in his #24 Chevy Impala or Monte Carlo SS race cars, Jeff Gordan has links to NASCAR sponsors like Nicorette and decade-long partner Pepsi . His main sponsor, however, is chemical giant Du Pont, whose website posts events relating to Jeff Gordon in their news section.

Jeff Gordon is known for being fast in a race car, but the man was especially quick about starting a family. Jeff Gordon married model Ingrid Vandebosch in November 2006. Just one month later, he announced on the official Jeff Gordon website that he and Vandebosch are expecting a duaghter in the summer.

Sources:
Jeff Gordon. NASCAR.com. 2007. 4 June 2007.
http://www.nascar.com/news/headlines/cup/gordon. j.bio/index.html
Breaking News! Gordon and Vanderbosch Expecting a Baby Girl. JeffGordan.com. 8 Feb. 2007. 4 June 2007. http://www.jeffgordon.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNews id=401678&iType=12216&icategoryid=1126
Jeff Gordon. Racing-reference.info.4 June 2007.
http://www.racing-reference.info/driver?id=gordo je01
Nextel Cup Standings. MSN.FoxSports. 2007. Microsoft. 4 June 2007.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/cup/standings